Noise is a constant part in our daily lives. Our surroundings—from commute sounds and yard work to music via earbuds—is increasingly loud. The expanding volume of sound poses a significant threat to your auditory health unless precautions are taken. The observance of National Protect Your Hearing Month in October provides the perfect opportunity to focus on the maintenance of this key sense.
8 actionable steps to protect your hearing
Fortunately, there are straightforward steps you can take to guard your hearing from the everyday noise around you. We present eight crucial guidelines to ensure auditory protection.
1. Become familiar with noise levels and their impact
Being conscious of how loud is too loud is the initial step in preventing hearing damage. The volume of various sounds is measured in decibels (dB), and being exposed to them for too long can cause irreversible hearing impairment. A fast look is below:
- Lawn mowers and heavy traffic fall into the 85–90 dB range, which is safe for up to 2 hours of listening.
- Exposure to 100 dB sounds, such as those from construction equipment or motorcycles, risks hearing damage in only 15 minutes.
- Over 110 dB: Fireworks, gunshots, explosions – Instant damage can happen after just a few seconds.
By being proactive about how loud your surroundings are, you can effectively stay away from places that are harmful to your auditory health.
2. Check sound levels yourself
Want to know the actual volume of your surroundings? You can easily determine it using your smartphone. There are many free applications that act as sound meters, enabling you to assess surrounding noise levels. The key to getting exact data is to take the measurement from the distance you usually maintain from the origin of the sound.
Using this feature regularly can help you better grasp your environment and make informed decisions about protecting your hearing.
3. Don’t crank up the volume on your devices
A major way people harm their hearing over time is by using their devices at elevated volume settings. Headphones and earbuds, while convenient, frequently carry understated dangers. It’s important that numerous headphones can reach 100 dB, a level that can induce hearing loss in only 15 minutes of use.
Today, over a billion young people are at risk of hearing loss from using earbuds at high volumes. You should never set the volume on your earbuds higher than 50% of the maximum capacity if you want to safeguard your ears. Having to increase the volume past this point to hear suggests that you may already have some hearing damage.
4. Never try to use music to drown out loud noise
When working in a noisy environment or living in a loud neighborhood, you may be tempted to use headphones to mask the surrounding noise. However, turning the volume high enough to overpower the noise outside is unwise for your hearing. Instead, consider using noise-canceling headphones, which allow you to enjoy your music or podcasts at a much lower, safer volume. In the absence of noise-canceling headphones, using earplugs is an good substitute.
5. Always utilize earplugs in noisy settings
Whether you are at a concert, a sports event, or operating loud machinery, earplugs are critical for those often exposed to loud environments. They are small, affordable, and easy to carry, making them a straightforward but effective tool for hearing protection.
Custom-fitted earplugs are offered for those who need them regularly, providing better fit and protection than generic options. Never think twice about use earplugs when you are in a noisy location.
6. While at work, follow safety recommendations
critically, if your occupation exposes you to loud machinery or equipment, you must ensure you follow the established safety guidelines for auditory protection. Some workplaces may downplay the risks, but those who claim “it’s not that loud” may already have significant hearing loss and don’t perceive the current noise levels. Take necessary steps to protect yourself by complying with all guidelines and wearing the designated protective equipment.
7. Distance yourself from loud noise
Often, the best strategy for safeguarding your ears is merely to step away from the noise. Distance reduces the intensity of sound impacting your ears, helping to minimize damage. To illustrate, moving 20 feet back from a 110 dB sound source can lower the level to about 100 dB, which is safe for 15 minutes of exposure.
The example of fireworks demonstrates this well. Even if a 150 dB firework explosion appears distant, being close to the launch site means the noise could still be over 120 dB, leading to immediate damage. You can nonetheless enjoy the display at a safer level, below 100 dB, by being 2,000 feet away (the length of about five football fields).
8. Address existing hearing loss promptly
Any existing hearing loss requires prompt action to keep it from advancing. This kind of impairment will not disappear; it only gets worse. Specifically, close to 10% of adults aged 55 to 64 suffer from major hearing loss, with the rates climbing steeply among older demographics.
When initial signs of hearing loss are ignored, it only causes the impairment to progress faster. Typically, individuals delay seeking treatment by a full 7 years. By consulting a hearing specialist sooner and exploring treatments such as hearing aids, you maximize the potential for retaining your existing hearing.
Act now for better hearing
Take advantage of National Protect Your Hearing Month as a chance to make hearing health a top concern. Whether you’ve already experienced some hearing loss or want to avoid future damage, these simple steps can make a big difference.
Schedule a hearing test today and take charge of your hearing health before it’s too late.
